Lawachhara National Park
Type: Park
Contributed By: Nayeem ,Nasir Khan Saikat,Shmunmun
Brief
Lawachhara National Park (Bengali: লাউয়াছড়া) is a major national park and nature reserve in Bangladesh. The park is located at Kamalganj Upazila, Moulvibazar District in the northeastern region of the country. It is located within the 2,740 ha (27.4 km2) West Bhanugach Reserved Forest. Lawachhara was one of the filming sites of the 1956 movie Around the World in 80 Days.
Lawachhara National Park covers approximately 1,250 ha (12.5 km2) of semi-evergreen forests of the Tropical and subtropical coniferous forests Biome and mixed deciduous forests of the Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests Biome. The land was declared a national park by the Bangladesh government on July 7, 1996 under the Wildlife Act of 1974.
The terrain of Lawachhara is undulating with scattered 10 to 50 m (33 to 164 ft.) hillocks. Locally known as tila, the hillocks are primarily composed of Upper Tertiary soft sandstone. The park is crossed by numerous sandy-bedded streams (locally known as nallah), one of which is the Lawachhara tributary, from which the park derived its name. The soil of Lawachhara is alluvial brown sandy clay loam to clay loam dating from the Pliocene epoch. Shallow depressions filled with water (Haor wetlands) are also a feature of the region as the low-lying areas are often subject to flooding.
The climate of Lawachhara is generally pleasant to warm, averaging at 26.8 °C (80.2 °F) in February to 36.1 °C (97.0 °F) in June. The humidity is high throughout the year, and Lawachhara experiences frequent rains with occasional cyclonic storms.
How to go
The Park is situated at Kamalganj Upazila, Moulvibazar District in the northeastern province of Bangladesh. It is 9.4 km away from Sreemangal. After reaching at Sreemangal, take CNG to reach that park at Sreemangal-Bhanugach road.
How To Reach: Moulvibazar District
You can reach to Moulvibazar from Dhaka only via bus directly. If you want to travel by train, you need to get off at Sreemangal station. Then you need to take a local bus or CNG to reach Moulvibazar. In case, you would like to fly to Moulvibazar, you have to reach sylhet first, then you can take a direct bus to Moulvibazar.
1. Hanif Paribahan
Arambagh: 01713-402671
Sayedabad: 01713-402673
2. Shyamoli Paribahan
Arambagh Counter, Dhaka. Phone-7102291, 0193626023
Sayedabad Counter, Dhaka. Phone-0171-8075541, 7511019, 7550071
3. Mamun Enterprise
First tip – 7:30am, last tip – 12:30am (bus in every 1 hour)
Sayadabad -01718438732, Jonopath mor-0191777061,
Fakirapul- 0191287467
You will find the above bus operators from Malibag Rail-gate, Razarbag or Sayedabad bus stand. These services are available from 6:30 am to 11:30 pm.
There are four train services from Dhaka to Sylhet. You can ride on these trains and get off at Sreemangal Station to head to Moulvibazar. They are Joyontika, Parabat and Upoban depart at morning, noon and evening. There is a new train named Kalini depart at afternoon from Dhaka. It takes 7-8 hours to reach sylhet. The ticket price to Sreemangal is around 225 for shovon-chair & it gets up to 512 taka for 1st class AC.
Where to Stay
Moulvibazar has several good quality hotels in the town. There are some resorts too. Sreemangal, the nearby Upazila also has number of 5 star resorts around it. The list of hotels in Moulvibazar are given below:
1. Hotel Sonargaon
Address: Sreemangal Road, Moulvibazar Sadar
Phone: 0861-64607
2. Parjatan Rest House
Address: Kusumbagh, Moulvibazar Sadar
Phone:0861-52350
3. Sheraton Plaza
Address: Kusumbagh, Moulvibazar Sadar
Phone: 0861-52020
4. Hotel Helal
Address: Saifur Rahman Road, Moulvibazar.
Contact: 0861-52535
5. Grand Sultan Tea Resort and Golf
Address: Radhanagar, Sreemangal, Moulvibazar
Phone: +8801730793552-9
Email: reservations@grandsultanresort.com
6. Hotel Rezia
Contact no: 01716-086463
Things to do
It is the biggest rain forest in Bangladesh. A number of species are living in this forest.
1. You can enjoy variety of species in the Lawachhara National Park. There are 460 species, among them 167 species are plants, amphibian species 4, 6 of them are reptile species, 246 bird species which are majority and rest are 20 mammal species.
2. For an extensive adventure, you can always go for a big year (Bird safari) for the 246 species of birds.
- The notable wildlife species are: Slow Loris, Pig-tailed Macaque, Rhesus Macaque, Assamese Macaque, Capped Langur, Phayre’s Leaf-monkey, Hoolock Gibbon, Jackal, Wild Dog, Sloth Bear or Himalayan Black Bear, Yellow-throated Marten, Tiger, Leopard, Fishing Cat, Leopard Cat, Wild Pig, Sambar, Barking Deer, Indian Giant Squirrel
Eating Facilities
Travel Tips
Best Time to Visit 01-Nov to 31-March to enjoy the best of this vast rain forest.
